Portable cigar lighter



April 5, 1932.. w. E. DUTH'IE 1,852,771

PORTABLE CIGAR LIGHTER Filed NOV. l2, 1928 INVENTOR.- NMa/06.26%

ATTORNEY.

p the invention consisting also further in the lighter minus the snuffer Patented Apr. s, 1932 UNITED STATES WILLIAM E. DUTHIE, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA PORTABLE CIGAR LIGHTER Application filed November 12, 1928. Serial No. 318,835.

This invention relates to an igniter which preferably is portable and designed to be used by smokers for lighting cigars and cigarettes, and in suitable size is adapted to be carried in a vest pocket, the invention having reference more particularly to the type of lighter or igniter that carries combustion substance fed to a burner by means of a Wick.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved cigar lighter which shall be of such construction as to be reliable in producing a flame, and also be certain to extinguish the flame after use to eliminate fire hazard.

Another object is to provide an improved igniter which shall be of such construction as to be adapted for conveniently carrying in a garment pocket without being cumbersome and obstructive, and which may be manufactured at moderate cost.

A further object is to provide a cigar lighter which may be so constructed as to be of light weight and convenient for carrying and handling, and not be liable to become objectionable because of leakage.

A still further object is to provide an improved and inexpensive cigar lighter which shall be so constructed as to be manufactured cheaply in large quantities and small size and yet be durable, vreliable and economical in use.

With theabove-mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in a container provided with novel operating means whereby a flame is obtained and by which the fia-me is automatically extinguished after use,

improved parts and in the novel combinations `and arrangements of parts as hereinafter particularly described and further defined in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying draw- `ings,-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cigar lighter constructed substantially in accordance with the invention: Fig. 2 is a top plan of the lighter; Fig. 3 is a top plan of the and parts to afford A a clear view of other parts; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the lighter minus the shield or screen thereof, in,which the snuffer is Withthe bot-tom of the container.

longitudinal section of the lighter, approximately central, on an enlarged scale; Fig. 6 is a bottom plan of the snuffel' arm and parts associated therewith; Fig. 7 is a sectional view approximately on the line VII- VII on Fi 5; Fig. 8 is a bottom'plan of an improved presser-bar for controlling the snufl'er arm, and Fig. 9 is a vertical section of a combined plug and spare flint carrier.

Similar reference characters in the various figures of the drawings indicate corresponding elements .or features of construction detail herein specifically referred to.

Practically'embodied the invention has a suitable container to carry a supply of gasoline or other suitable combustible, and devices on the top of the container to control ignition.V The container or body of the complete lighter comprises a wall 1, a bottom plate 2 and a top plate 3, a burner tube l'being rigidly 70 secured to the top plate, adjacent to one end thereof and a wick 5 supported in the tube and extending downward into the interior of the container. The bottom plate 2 is provided with a filling plug 6 below the burner tube 75 permitting a new wick to be inserted through Preferably the top plate has a depressed portion 7 in proximity to its opposite end to afford clearance for operative parts of the invention.

The containeror body part of the lighter is provided with a frame which comprises a base part 8 arranged on the under side of the top plate Sand secured thereto, and two 'upright plates 9 and 10 extending from the 85 base plate upward through suitable slots in the top plate 3. The upright plates jointly support an axle shaft 11 which extends through the plates. A ratchet wheel 12 havj, ing a hub 13 is rotatively supported on the 90' shaft 11, and a sparking-wheel 11i-'is rigidly secured to the hub and has a toothed or roughened periphery. A guide tube 15 is arranged in the container and secured at its lower end in the bottom plate 2, and it extends through the top plate 3 and is tightly secured thereto, the lower end of the tube having a stopper plug 16 screwed into it, the plug supporting a coil spring 17 that supports a fiint 18 and yieldingly holds it in contact with the sparkmo ing-wlieel, the Hint being composed of any suitable material as has hitherto been used, not necessarily a natural Hint.

A snuffer arm 19 is provided which preferably is composed of sheet metal and having side members 2O and 20 that are connected to the shaft 11 in pivotal arrangement in proximity to one end of the side members, the members being arranged against the outer sides of the frame plates 9 and 10. A snuf'fer cap 21 is rigidly secured to the side members adjacent to the opposite ends thereof and is adapted to be seated upon the burner tube 4 and cover the upper end of the wick 5. A ratchet pawl 22 is arranged in the snuffel' arm to operate on the ratchet wheel 12, being pressed thereto by means of a spring 23 on a pivot pin 24 which is connected to the side members and supports the pawl, as preferably constructed.

Preferably the plug 16 has a socket bore 25 into which a spare Hint 18 is placed in order to have a Hint conveniently at hand when needed, the Hint preferably being pressed into the lower portion of the spring 17 so that the small Hint will not be liable to become lost when its carrying plug is removed from A presser-bar 26 preferably composed of sheet metal is provided which has side plates 27 and 27 that are connected adjacent to one end thereof to crank pins 28 and 28 that are screwed into or otherwise secured to the side members 20 and 20 respectively at points slightly distant from the shaft 11, the side lates being arranged against the outer sides of the members 20 and 20. A pivot pin 29 is connected to the frame plates 9 and 10 slightly above the top plate 3, and a controlling-bar 30 which has side members 31 and 31 that are connected to the pin and adapted to project at an inclination above the depressed portion 7 of the top plate and between the side plates of the presser-bar into pivotal connection with a pin 32 connected with the two side plates 27 and 27 adjacent to their outer ends. A coil spring 33 is arranged on the pin32 between the side members 31 and 31 and it has one arm 34 engaging the presser-bar and another arm 35 engaging the controlling-bar, the spring being under a strain tending to push the presser-bar away from the top plate 3 and over towards the burner, so as to automatically act to operate the snuffer for eX- tinguishing a Haine on the burner. The snuffer arm has a suitable contour adapting it to P partially cover the ratchetwheel and sparking-wheel. and the presser-bar 26 is suitably shaped to adapt it to cover the remaining upper portions of the aforesaid wheels.

Preferably the lighter is provided with a screen or shield to prevent air currents from extingui-hing the necessary Haine. the screen preferably comprising` a curved plate 36 haying perforations 3T therein, the plate being removably seated upon the top plate 3 and having a lug 38 engaging the under side of the plate 3 against the body wall 1, the screen extending partially about the burner tube 4 and having clasp members 39 and 39' projecting therefrom and detachably caught in a slot 40 in each of the upright frame plates, permitting ready removal of the screen.

It should be understood that suitable packing is used in the container to absorb the required liquid, but this being of common knowledge is not illustrated.

In practical use, assuming that the container has been properly'charged with suitable Hame-producing media and the wick conduct-ing the same to the top of the burner, while a person holds the container in one hand and witli his thumb presses downward upon the presser-bar,the controlling-bar 30 isforced to swing downward or towards the container top and forces the presser-bar in the direction away from the burner, while acting on the crank pins whereby the snufer arm is swung upwardly and causes rotation of the sparking-wheel, which causes a spark or sparks to be thrown from the top of the Hint 18 and to the top of the burner tu e so as to c ause a flame as commonly whereby to light a cigar, a cigarette or a pipe of tobacco as may be desired. When used in-doors the screen may readily be removed from place, and may be again quickly applied when the lighter is required for out-door use. Preferably when operating a lighter the pressure is exerted mainly near the outer end of the presser-bar to cause quick action of the snufer arm .and sudden rapid movement of the sparkingwheel, the pressure being shifted towards the crank pins as they are moved over the axle sufficiently to operate to hold the snuffer u pwardly so as to fully clear the burner while utilizing the Haine. Upon release of thel presser-bar the spring 32 causes return of the controlling-bar and the presser-bar and the latter promptly pushes the snufer over until the cap 21 extinguishes the Hame, after which the lighter may be safely placed into a garment pocket.

What is claimed is:

1. A cigar lighter having a snuf'fer arm and a presser-bar pivotally connected together, a container provided -with a rigid frame pivotally supporting the. snuffer arm, a Hint supported upon the container, a burner upon the container, a sparking-wheel suported by said frame, and a control bar pivotally supported upon the container and pivotally co-operating with the presser-bar adjacent to its end to control the snuffer arm for operation in connection with the burner.

2. An igniter including a pivoted snuii'er arm provided closelyladjacent to its pivot with a crank pin, the arm having a cap, a presser-bar connected at one end thereof to the crank pin, an inclined controlling-bar pivotally supported at one end thereof and pivotally connected at its opposite end to the opposite end portion of the presserebar, a sparking-wheel controlled by the snuffer arm, and a flint device to be operated on by the sparking-Wheel. 3. An igniter having a frame and an arm' pivoted thereto, a ratchet wheel and a vsparking-wheel secured together and rotatably supported in thelframe, a pawl supported in the arm and engaging the ratchet wheel, a flint device supported to be operated on by the sparking-wheel, a presser-bar having pivotal connection at one end with the arm, and a controlling-bar pivotally supported adjacent to the base of the frame and having pivotal connection with the presser-bar to control movement thereof when operated to pivotally'move the arm.

4. A cigar lighter including a container and a frame upon the top thereof, a burner tube on said top adjacent to one end of the frame. an axle shaft supported on the frame,

a. sparking-wheel and a ratchet-wheel secured together and rotatable on said shaft, a snufler arm pivotally supported on said shaft and provided near its pivot with a crank pin, the arm having also a cap to cover said tube, a guide tube on the top of the container and a flint in the tube in contact with the sparking-wheel, a pawl supported in the snuer arm in engagement with the ratchet-wheel, and a presser-bar connected with said crank pin and provided with an inclined control device pivoted thereto and having pivotal support at its lower end on the opposite end of the frame.

5. In a cigar lighter, a container provided with a top plate having a depressed portion adjacent to one end thereof, a burner tube fixed to said top plate adjacent to the opposite end thereof, a frame fixed to said plate between said depressed portion and said tube, a snuiTer arm pivoted to the frame, a sparking-wheel in the frame to be operated bv the snufer arm. a flint supported in the frame beneath the sparking-Wheel, and a presserbar pivotally connected with the snu'er arm and provided with a control device pivotally connected with the frame and the presser bar to eccentrically guide the end of the latter i(giver to be received into said depressed porlon.

6. In a cigar lighter, the combination of a' container comprising a bottom provided with a filling-plug and a top provided with a burner tube above the filling-plug, a flint supported upon said top, a frame fixed upon said top, a sparking-wheel and a snuffer arm supported by the frame, a presser-bar connected with the snuffer arm and provided with a pivot-pin. a controlling-bar pivoted to the frame and connected to said pin, a spring on said pin having an arm engaging the controlling-bar and an arm engaging the presserbar, and means to enable the snuifer arm to operate the sparking-wheel.

7. In 'a cigar lighter, the combination of a container provided with a top plate having a depression, a sparking-wheel and a snulfer arm supported upon the top plate, a presser-` bar having controlling connection with the snuffer arm and movable to Abring its outer end into said depression, andaJ control device having connection with the presser-bar and lsupported upon said top plate, the device being provided with a spring for yieldingly pushing the presser-bar away from said top.

In testimony whereof, I afIiX my signature on the 8th day of November, 1928.

WILLIAM E. DUTHIE. 

